RS bypoll: BJP nominee Rekha Sharma files nomination, set to be elected unopposed
Chandigarh, Dec 10: Former National Commission for Women chief and BJP nominee Rekha Sharma filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha bypoll from Haryana here on Tuesday.
Being the lone candidate in the fray, she is set to get elected unopposed.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, state BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli and Minister Krishan Lal Panwar were among those who accompanied Sharma when she submitted her nomination papers before the returning officer at the Haryana Assembly secretariat here.
Speaking to reporters after filing her nomination, Sharma said, "I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Amit Shah ji, J P Nadda ji, Manohar Lal Khattar and Nayab Singh Saini ji for giving me an opportunity once again to serve the nation."
She also touched upon several initiatives and schemes brought by the Narendra Modi government for women empowerment.
"Congratulations and best wishes for your victory in advance," Chief Minister Saini posted in Hindi on X after Sharma filed her nomination.
The BJP announced Sharma's name for the December 20 Rajya Sabha bypolls on Monday. The opposition has decided not to field a candidate.
In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the BJP has 48 members and the Congress 37. The INLD has two MLAs while three are Independents who support the Nayab Singh Saini government.
The Rajya Sabha seat in Haryana fell vacant when Krishan Lal Panwar of the BJP got elected as an MLA in the state assembly polls held in October. Panwar is now the Development and Panchayat Minister in the BJP government in Haryana.
Speaking to reporters after Rekha Sharma filed her nomination, CM Saini, while replying to a question, highlighted that Prime Minister Modi is consistently working on empowering women by launching new schemes and policies.
Saini said that on Monday the prime minister launched the "Bima Sakhi" scheme of LIC from Panipat. It will greatly benefit women by providing employment opportunities and making them stronger and more self-reliant, he said.
The chiefg minister also informed reporters that the Maharaja Agrasen Airport in Hisar is in its final stages of completion and will commence operations soon.
This airport will open up opportunities for an industrial hub around Hisar and drive development, generating numerous employment opportunities, he said, adding the airport would benefit not only Haryana but also Punjab and Rajasthan.
An official statement here had earlier said that the schedule for the lone vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Haryana had been notified on December 3 and nominations could be filed till December 10. The nomination papers will be scrutinised by the office of the Returning Officer on December 11.
Nominations may be withdrawn until 3 pm on December 13. If necessary, voting was to take place on December 20 at the Haryana secretariat, between 9 am to 4 pm, the statement had earlier said.
Notably, of the five RS seats in Haryana, Subhash Barala, Ram Chander Jangra and Kiran Choudhry are BJP members while Rekha Sharma is also set to be elected unopposed. Kartikeya Sharma is an Independent member.
आज मुख्यमंत्री श्री @NayabSainiBJP जी और प्रदेश अध्यक्ष श्री मोहन लाल बडौली जी की उपस्थिति में राज्यसभा उप-चुनाव हेतु हमारी प्रत्याशी राष्ट्रीय महिला आयोग की पूर्व अध्यक्षा श्रीमती @sharmarekha जी ने टीम हरियाणा के हमारे सभी सदस्यों से भेंट कर अपना नामांकन दाखिल किया। pic.twitter.com/W27P8moyUY
— Haryana BJP (@BJP4Haryana) December 10, 2024
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Karnataka offers extensive incentives in its proposed IT policy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has proposed a new Information Technology Policy for 2025–2030, offering extensive financial and non-financial incentives aimed at accelerating investments, strengthening innovation and expanding the state's tech footprint beyond Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Cabinet gave its nod to the policy 2025–2030 with an outlay of Rs 445.50 crore on Thursday after the Finance Department accorded its approval.
The policy introduces 16 incentives across five enabler categories, nine of which are entirely new, with a distinctive push to support companies setting up or expanding in emerging cities.
Alongside financial support, the government is also offering labour-law relaxations, round-the-clock operational permissions and industry-ready human capital programmes to make Karnataka a globally competitive 'AI-native' destination.
According to the policy, units located outside Bengaluru will gain access to a wide suite of benefits, including research and development and IP creation incentives, internship reimbursements, talent relocation support and recruitment assistance.
The benefits also include EPF reimbursement, faculty development support, rental assistance, certification subsidies, electricity tariff rebates, property tax reimbursement, telecom infrastructure support, and assistance for events and conferences.
Bengaluru Urban will receive a focused set of six research and development and talent-oriented incentives, while Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in the state will be brought under the incentive net.
Incentive caps and eligibility thresholds have been raised, and the policy prioritises growth-focused investments for both new and expanding units.
Beyond incentives, the government focuses on infrastructure and innovation interventions.
A flagship proposal in the policy is the creation of Techniverse -- integrated, technology-enabled enclaves developed through a public-private partnership model inside future Global Innovation Districts.
These campuses will offer plug-and-play facilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning and cybersecurity labs, advanced testbeds, experience centres, and disaster-resistant command centres.
There will also be a Statewide Digital Hub Grid and a Global Test Bed Infrastructure Network, linking public and private research and development, and innovation facilities across Karnataka.
The government has proposed a Women Global Tech Missions Fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women technologists, an IT Talent Return Programme to absorb experienced professionals returning from abroad, and broad-based skill and faculty development reimbursements.
Shared corporate transport routes in Bengaluru and tier-two cities will be designed with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other transport entities to support worker mobility.
The government said the policy is the outcome of an extensive research and consultation process involving TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, HP, Google, Accenture and NASSCOM, along with sector experts and stakeholder groups.
It estimates an outlay of Rs 967.12 crore over five years, comprising Rs 754.62 crore for incentives and Rs 212.50 crore for interventions such as Techniverse campuses, digital grid development, global outreach missions and talent programmes.
